The last few years have shown Vietjet's inexorable rise with awards, an expanding network and a $300 million deal to cement its presence on the world stage. We take a look at how the Vietnam-based low-cost carrier is performing.
Branching Out
Hanoi-based Vietjet Aviation has grown considerably since its official launch in December 2011 with its inaugural flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. The carrier carried its 10 millionth passenger in December 2014 and its 25 millionth passenger by the end of 2015.
As Vietnam's first privately owned airline, it has quickly become known for its affordable fares and extensive domestic and international network.
It now has hubs at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), and Da Nang International Airport (DAD). With a fleet of over 100 aircraft, its destinations cover Vietnam, China, South Korea, Japan, as well as India, and Australia.
Passengers can savour gourmet Vietnamese and international cuisine in-flight, including specialties like Pho and Banh Mi, while also enjoying complimentary SkyCare insurance for a safe and worry-free journey.
Vietjet has a multicultural workforce of over 6,000 employees from more than 50 countries and territories.
$300 million deal
Vietjet recently announced the signing of a $300 million aircraft financing agreement with Carlyle Aviation Partners. It came during Vietnam's General Secretary To Lam's official visit to Singapore. This milestone will strengthen Vietnam-Singapore connectivity and foster sustainable development between the two nations.
Vietjet and Carlyle Aviation Partners agreement will support the delivery of new aircraft in 2025-2026. This deal is a key step in Vietjet's strategy to expand its modern fleet, which includes over 400 aircraft on order.
"We are proud to be a long-term strategic partner of Vietjet, supporting its international growth and commitment to providing affordable, convenient travel options," said Alexander Rasnavad, President of Carlyle Aviation Partners, the aviation arm of The Carlyle Group which manages 363 aircraft across 53 countries.
New Flights
Vietjet is continuing to enhance and expand its flight network in Asia and further afield.
A Phu Quoc-Singapore route will be launching May 30, 2025, with four round-trip flights per week. This will bring Vietjet's total weekly flights between Vietnam and Singapore to 78.
This addition complements Vietjet's existing services from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang. With this growing network, the airline expects to serve over 500,000 passengers annually between the two countries.
Vietjet is also set to launch a new direct service connecting Hanoi to Shanghai, with the inaugural flight planned for April 29, 2025. This route will enhance air travel between Northeast and Southeast Asia while expanding Vietjet's international flight network. The new route is Vietjet's fifth new service to China in 2025 alone.
In addition, the airline will launch four new services connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Beijing and Guangzhou in March and April. Two new routes linking Ho Chi Minh City with Hyderabad and Bangalore in India will also start in March.
The carrier has also revealed the airline's first-ever route linking Vietnam and New Zealand. Taking off in September 2025, Ho Chi Minh City to Auckland flights will operate four times per week.
Awards
The airline was honored by Airline Ratings as the "World's Best Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier" while maintaining a 7/7 star safety rating, the highest worldwide. Vietjet is also continuously ranked among the best and safest low-cost carriers globally.
Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings, applauded the airline's achievement, commenting:
"Vietjet has mastered the art of delivering exceptional value to passengers, combining competitive fares with a reliable and innovative service model.
"Their ability to make air travel accessible to millions without compromising on safety or efficiency sets them apart. In addition to this, our onboard reviews have noticed time and time again the dedication of their crew to help all passengers, and that is something we highly regard."
Having recognized it as one of the world's Top 10 safest and best low-cost airlines for many years. AirlineRatings named Vietjet as Value Airline of the Year in 2022.
The airline has also been honoured with numerous prestigious international awards, including "Asia's Best Employer Brand" and "Top 500 Asia's Leading Brands."
It has also solidified its position as a global leader in human resource excellence, earning three prestigious accolades at the 33rd edition of the World HRD Congress in Mumbai, India. The airline was awarded "Dream Company to Work For," "Best Corporate Social Responsibility Practices," and "Global Best Employer Brand."
Andy Probert is an independent journalist who writes about global travel news, airlines, airports, and business. His work has appeared globally on the BBC, and in many national newspapers and magazines.
